Web Desk: Competing claims over control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mineral resources have intensified following recent political developments in the province, with a report alleging that social media accounts linked to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are circulating misleading narratives about the government’s intentions and the role of state institutions in mining.
The report, attributed to an independent research team, disputes claims that emergency measures in the province were intended to facilitate the exploitation of mineral resources. It also raises questions about the allocation of mining licences during PTI’s years in power and alleges illegal extraction of placer gold along the Indus River.
The allegations could not be independently verified, and the report did not provide supporting documents or detailed evidence for all of its claims.
According to the report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had fewer than 1,000 mining licences before PTI came to power, but the number increased to more than 4,719 during the party’s 13-year period in government.
The report alleges that some licences went to politically connected individuals, contractors and companies, which it accuses of extracting raw minerals without investing sufficiently in processing or refining facilities.
It also points to excavation activities along the Indus River, alleging that companies linked to provincial ministers were involved in the illegal extraction of placer gold and other minerals from riverbed deposits.
However, the report did not identify the companies concerned or provide licence records, regulatory findings or court documents to substantiate those allegations. The claims therefore require independent examination against official mining records and environmental enforcement data.
The report also rejects allegations that the Pakistan Army has taken control of the province’s mineral resources.
It claims that the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), a state-linked engineering organisation, operates a mining project at Boya Diggan and that the project is the only mining licence held by a national institution in the province.
According to the report, the project provides employment to local residents and has undertaken corporate social responsibility initiatives. It further argues that the military has no broader role in managing the province’s mineral sector.
The report, however, does not include a comprehensive list of mining licences or supporting documentation establishing the full extent of state institutions’ involvement in the sector.
The report alleges that accounts linked to PTI have repeatedly circulated an older video featuring a U.S. chargé d’affaires discussing mineral potential in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of Pakistan.
It argues that the repeated circulation of the footage has been used to support claims that emergency measures in KP are connected to the exploitation of mineral deposits.
The report characterises the campaign as politically motivated misinformation. However, it does not provide a detailed analysis of the accounts involved, the dates of publication or independent evidence establishing coordination among them.
The competing narratives highlight the need to distinguish verified information from political allegations, particularly when claims concern natural resources, public policy and national institutions.
Pakistan has significant mineral potential, including deposits in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Turning those resources into lasting economic benefits, however, requires investment, technical expertise, transparent regulation and stronger environmental safeguards.
The report identifies several priorities for developing the sector, including attracting responsible investors, training skilled workers, enforcing modern mining regulations and expanding local processing and refining capacity.
It also stresses the importance of reliable transport infrastructure, efficient supply chains, workplace safety and compliance with environmental standards.
Rather than exporting raw materials, the report argues, Pakistan should focus on producing higher-value finished goods to create jobs, increase domestic revenue and support industrial development.
The report calls for journalists and independent research teams to visit mining sites, interview local residents and consult specialists to establish the facts surrounding mineral extraction and licensing.
Such investigations could help determine whether mining operations comply with legal requirements, whether local communities receive economic benefits and whether environmental protections are being enforced.
A transparent assessment would also require the publication of licence records, the identification of companies holding extraction rights, details of royalty payments and information about enforcement actions against illegal mining.
As political tensions continue in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, independently verifiable evidence will be essential to resolving competing claims over the province’s mineral wealth and ensuring that decisions affecting public resources serve the interests of local communities.
Read more: Propaganda exposed as PTI recycles US diplomat clip to tie KP emergency to minerals
